10 FREE THINGS Enjoy marvelous museums, stately memorials and scenic outdoor activities without paying a cent in DC. For more free things to do, visit washington.org. VISIT THE DWIGHT D. EISENHOWER MEMORIAL This Frank Gehry-designed memorial to the nation’s 34th president and Supreme Commander of the Allied Forces in Europe during World War II is a spectacular new addition to the National Mall. 4 features the late, great Kobe Bryant’s jersey from the 2008 NBA Finals. WITNESS THE POWER OF LANGUAGE AT PLANET WORD MARVEL AT THE RENOVATED MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. MEMORIAL LIBRARY Mies van der Rohe’s iconic 1972 downtown glass-and-steel masterpiece has reopened after a $211 million renovation that includes a rooftop terrace and a cafe. 3 DISCOVER THE NATIONAL MUSEUM OF AFRICAN AMERICAN HISTORY AND CULTURE 5 6 The voice-activated museum brings language to life through engaging, interactive exhibits, including Where Do Words Come From? , a 22-foot-tall wall that reveals the origin of commonly used words. The Speaking Willow Tree, which conjures murmurs in hundreds of languages, dazzles upon entry. WANDER AROUND THE U.S. NATIONAL ARBORETUM These 446 rolling acres are home to roughly 14,000 different species of plants, as well as the magnificent and historic National Capitol Columns. The wondrous site is perfect for a scenic Instagram post. EXPERIENCE MASTERY AT THE SMITHSONIAN AMERICAN ART MUSEUM & NATIONAL PORTRAIT GALLERY WASHINGTON.ORG Take an emotional journey through five floors of vital Black history and culture, from the origins of the slave trade to the Civil Rights movement to Black Lives Matter. The Sports: Leveling the Playing Field gallery now A neoclassical building hosts these two Smithsonian family favorites that explore the heart of American art. The former tracks the development of technique and forms; the latter focuses on the country’s most iconic figures. 11
Washington DC Official Visitors Guide Spring/Summer 2021 Official Visitor Guide: Page 11
